A TORRIL CITY SEQUEL?
MON, MAY 4, 2026 - 17:27
Greetings, wonderful nerds!
Jimzip here with some great news regarding the next instalment in the Aliru Anthology!
I’ve been asked repeatedly of late about the follow-up to A Pinch of Peril, and I’m thrilled to report that the first draft of Torril City 2: A Trace of Treachery is underway. In fact, it’s not just underway, but halfway there!
This sequel is shaping up to be a wild ride. Diving back into the familiar, leaf-strewn streets of Torril, the stakes will be dialed up as Akteron and Piria are pitted against an ancient pirate curse that threatens to overwhelm the city with a series of escalating misfortunes.
In the process, our favourite duo will find themselves thrust into the opulent and treacherous world of Torril's high citizenry. They’ll have to navigate the complex political landscape of the city's elite while working the case for Stoica Salaa of the prestigious Ironward family.
That's not all, either, because the mysterious individual behind the theft of the Umbral Blade is still out there. With a recent string of disappearances and some odd phenomena reported across the city, the threat this person poses is growing by the day and whatever they're cooking up, it doesn't bode well…
The question is; who is it, and what do they want? Both questions which this new instalment will illuminate!
The first draft is currently on target and I'm hoping to have it wrapped up by around October or November. Stay tuned for more updates as progress continues.
I am incredibly excited about this new chapter in the Aliru Anthology. It’s been a joy to dive back into this world and find new ways to deepen the lore and mysteries for the readers who enjoyed A Pinch of Peril.
Don’t forget that while you’re waiting for A Trace of Treachery, you can always dive into This Emerald Crucible. Set in a different time and corner of Aliru, it offers a fresh perspective on the world and a new adventure while we wait to see what our detectives will do next!
More to come soon.
Peace! Jim :)
THE BIG BOOK GIVEAWAY 2026 - WINNERS
WED, APR 1, 2026 - 11:26
Greetings, wonderful nerds!
Well, March is officially over, and that means it's time to announce the winners of the BIG BOOK GIVEAWAY 2026!
Congratulations to the following entrants, each of whom will receive a copy of The Torril City Mysterion (released 2021) or This Emerald Crucible (released 2025):
• Dan M. - Seattle
• Millie A. - Wilmington
• Lukas M. - Graz
• Ramesh L. - Bathurst
• Marcy D. - Sydney
• Ronnie M. - Bristol
• Petra B. - Bremen
• Lilli F. - Modesto
• Dave P. - London
• Andrew L. - Newcastle
Even if you didn't win this time, there are more giveaways coming up, so make sure to check back for the next one, and thanks to everyone who entered! It was fascinating and touching to see how much interest these books are generating around the world.
Peace! Jim :)
THE BIG BOOK GIVEAWAY 2026
SUN, MAR 1, 2026 - 9:42
Good gravy, it's been been 5 years since the release of Torril City, you say?
That calls for a celebration! And what better way to celebrate than by giving away a bunch of books?
In March of 2026, I'm giving away 5 copies of The Torril City Mysterion: A Pinch of Peril, and 5 copies of the newly released This Emerald Crucible.
Claiming a copy for yourself is easy! Just follow these 2 steps:
1) Visit my handy-dandy Contact form by clicking here.
2) Select '2026 Big Book Giveaway' as the subject, and make sure to write which book you'd prefer to receive (I promise not to share your information or spam you!)
That's it! Once you've hit 'Send' your name will go into the draw.
At the end of the month, 10 names will be picked at random and these entrants will receive a book in the mail!
Best of luck to you all.
The obligatory Terms and Conditions can be read here.
PIXORAMA: CUSTOM POKÉMON SPRITE
TUE, FEB 24, 2026 - 8:37
In the latest episode of Pixorama, Jimzip is delving into the era of the Game Boy Advance (GBA) to rustle up a custom Pokémon sprite!
Did you know that the GBA had a palette of over 32,000 colours to choose from? Or that only 512 colours could be displayed at any one time? This was a fascinating era for gaming and saw pixel art reaching its zenith of an art form — and that's exactly what we're exploring in this episode!
Come along for the ride. And don't forget to bring along some spare Pokéballs!
OPENS IN YOUTUBE
A GREAT TIME FOR FANTASY
TUES, FEB 10, 2026 - 10:37
It's undeniably a great time for fantasy.
Nowadays, with tech capabilities and audience demand converging pleasantly like sugar and butter, we're getting a slew of new material to enjoy. And the latest news in this area came just two weeks ago when Brandon Sanderson and Apple signed "an unprecedented deal" (in Hollywood Reporter language), giving Apple the rights to Sanderson's expansive, beloved, and undeniably delicious fictional universe, the 'cosmere'.
The deal is rare one, coming after a competitive situation which saw Sanderson meet with most of the studio heads in town. It gives the author rarefied control over the screen translations, according to sources. Sanderson will be the architect of the universe; will write, produce and consult; and will have approvals.
- The Hollywood Reporter
I couldn't be happier about this.
First of all, I'm a Sanderson fan. Secondly, I'm an Apple fan, and I've been delighted with almost everything AppleTV has cooked up so far. Like Apple itself, it seems that AppleTV shares their parent company's desire for high-quality and attention-driven design, and it's equally evident that a respect for the source material is also part of their ethos – all of which forges excellent TV. The hit-rate for good shows on AppleTV is undeniably good, as a quick glance at IMDB or Rotten Tomatoes will confirm. Severance, For All Mankind, Ted Lasso, See, Silo, and Foundation have all been excellent.
Foundation in particular has demonstrated that mature, complex and high-quality fiction is not only viable but that audiences are hungry for it. Again, as a huge fan of Isaac Asimov's work, I consider it an excellent re-imagining of the source material. It's different but in all the right ways, stays true to the heart of the works, and adds some new layers which the books lacked but which elevate the series (adding the 'genetic dynasty' was a masterstroke, allowing continuity, familiarity, and a lens through which to view the crumbling of Empire effectively, for example).
All-up, AppleTV productions are some of the best out there and, perhaps most impressively of all, Apple has somehow avoided letting current social or political trends or slants sully the production (unlike some other studios, namely Amazon, Netflix, & Disney…).
So, you can see why I'm excited. If everything pans out, we're going to get some stellar new fantasy material to sink our teeth into, though it's going to be a few more months before anything more concrete is announced. All I'll say for now is that seeing as Sanderson himself is slated to retain a lot of creative control, I think there's reason for hope on this one.
Hear Brandon speak about this exciting deal himself on his YouTube.
Here's to that, fellow fantasy freaks!
Jim :)
